Flame control for burners of the solidified normally liquid fuel burning type



Sept. 16, 1952 A. J. LALIBERTE 2,

FLAME CONTROL FOR BURNERS OF THE SOLIDIFIED NORMALLY LIQUID FUEL BURNING TYPE Filed Oct. 15, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l fmmtr fllerf Joseph Laliberl Sept. 16, 1952 A. J. LALIBERTE ,67

' FLAME CONTROL FOR BURNERS OF THE SOLIDIFIED NORMALLY LIQUID FUEL BURNING TYPE Filed Oct. 15, 1946 4 Sheets Sheet 2 o inumfar' N 14am Jzs v/L .lalzlerfe Sept. 16, 1952 A. J. LALIBERTE 2,610,

FLAME CONTROL FOR BURNERS OF THE SOLIDIFIED NORIIALLY LIQUID FUEL BURNING TYPE Filed Oct. 15, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 16, 1952 FLAME oou'rnor. FOR BURNERS on THE SOLIDIFIED NORMALLY LIQUID FUEL.

BURNING TYPE Albert Joseph Laliberte, West Cheshire, Conn., assignor to Safety-Fuel Incorporated, West Cheshire,,Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 15, 1946, Serial No. 703,315, '1 Claims. (Cl. 158-97) This invention relates to new and useful im- I provements in flame control for burners of the solidified normally liquid fuel burning type.

Burnersof this type are designed for use With a solidified normally liquid fuel, such as a suitably solidified kerosene or other flammable petroleum hydrocarbon. In these burners the solidified fuel is vaporized by part of the heat of the burner and the fuel vapors are passed into a combustion chamber where they are suitably mixed with air and combusted. Though frequent attempts have been hitherto made to control the rate of flow of vaporized fuel into the combustion chamber and thereby control the flame of the burner, none have been satisfactory. Yet such flame control is highly desirable not only for controlling the burner output as between high and low flame and various intermediate positions, but also with respect to its complete and safe extinguishing, at any time. Though the burner flame can be always extinguished, the lack of a satisfactory control will cause fuel vapors to continue to emanate from the fuel receptacle by reason of the heat within the fuel receptacle or continue to be ab.- sorbed by the same for an appreciable period of time after extinguishing the flame. This may cause dangerous conditions and fire hazards as the vapors remain unchecked and will leak to the outside.

One object of the instant invention is to provide a flame control for burners of the solidified normally liquid fuel burning type.

This and further objects thereof will appear from the following description read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a burner construction in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 represents a cross-sectional side view of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of part of the construction shown in Fig. 2 and illustrating theburner assembly;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional top view of the construction shown in Fig. 2 at right angles thereto, taken in the plane 11-11;

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate respectively end and side views of a manual control in conjunction with the flamecontrol shutter in accordance with the invention, and

Figs? and 8 illustrate an alternative manual control for the operation and adjustment of the novel flame control shutter.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates the bumer housing having a top 2, rear portion 3 and base portion 4. A door 5 is carried at the front of the burner being hinged at 6 in the lugs 1 carried by the front portion 8 of the burner housing. A plate 9 is carriedby the front portion 8 of the housing and serves-to mount the manual operating control assembly comprising knob Ill 'mountedon shaft ll extending through aperture l2 in plate 9 and carrying the 'camming cup l3. Support is provided as a securing guidefor the control assembly and further to strengthen plate 9. Door 5 carries an extension I5 serving as a door handle. The control assembly is mounted in substantially fixed position with respect to the housing and the cut-out [6 in door 5, permits the opening of the door while leaving the-control assembly in position.

The burner assembly comprises two 'substantially concentrically arranged,'substantially cy'-' lin'drical members I1 and I8, provided with perforations l9 and 20 respectively. The cylindrical members I! and I8 define therebetween thecombustion space 2|. Inner --cylindrical member I8 carries ring cap 22. Air ducts 23 admit air to the innercylinder. A substantially annular shield 24 carrying ring member 25 concentrically surrounds cylindrical members I! and I8 and acts to protect the outside of the burner from excessive heat radiation and the burner itself against incipient drafts. Burner shield 24 is inserted through and held'in position in the circular opening 26 in the top portion 2 of the burner housing I. The cylindrical'burner member 18 carriesbot f tom closure 21. The back portion 3 of the burner housing I is preferably bolted in position, and air I openings, to'freely admit air for combustion, are

spring tensionwith its 'rim' or lip 31 againstthe endface of.'the burner assembly base 3|. 'The' fuelcup is provided with. a handle portion 38' and 'knob 39. Spring plate 32 carries annular depression. generallylcohforming to the con-., tours of the bottom of the fuel cup and serving to substantially secure and maintainjthe" fuel in predetermined position in relation to the-ans, nular opening 4| within burner assembly base 3|. Shutter housing plate! ismountedlon b'urn'er f l I means of the flanged o'r bent'portion 4 3. Shutter- Support 30 secured to base portion 4 of housing plate 42 carries mounted thereon the outer burner cylinder IT, by means of the flanged portions 44. Shutter housing plate 42 is provided with a substantially circular cut-out 45 and the construction is so arranged and assembled that cut-out 4| in burner assembly base 3|, and cutout 45 in shutter housing plate 42, are in substantial alignment with each other and with their outer periphery substantially aligned with the outer wall of the cylindrical burner member I1.

A shutter 46 is carried within the shutter housing 41 defined by shutter housing plate 42, its flanged or bent portion 43 and the burner assembly base 3|. Cut-outs 4| and 45 in'burner assembly base 3| and shutterhousingplate 42 respectively define, together with the shutter housing 41, a conduit for the passage of vaporized fuel from the fuel cup 36 to the combustion space 2| defined by cylindrical burner members I1 and I8. The shutter 45 acts as a variable and adjustable closure to control the fuel vapor passage. through the conduit from fully closed to fully. open and intermediate positions.

Specifically referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the

shutter 46 comprises two membersror panels 48a and 46b.having facing each other mating sur- The shutter faces 48a and 48?) respectively. panels are pivotably hinged at 49a and 49b respectivelyfland carry lever extensions 50a and 50b. Leverextensions 50a and 50b carry adjacent their ends apertures 60a and 60b respec tively and secured therein guide members Glu and 6|b, The shutter panels are movable in the fuel vapor conduit from a mating surface abutment position, substantially fully closing the conduit to the passage of fuel vapors therethrough, to a maximum spread-apart position substantially opening said conduitto the substantially unrestricted passage of fuel vapors r t 0u h,

Specificaily referring to Figs. 5 amid, the cup member l3 carries carnming slots or grooves 52a and 62b respectively. These slots are so arranged on the inner periphery of cup |3 that they describe or define a portion of a spiral of progressively decreasing distance from the axis of the cup. in the arrangement illustrated, turning of the cup I 3 by means of the knob l0 in thedirection of the arrow will result in bring ingtheguide'members' am and 6|b closer to the axis of'thecup, thus drawing them into closer proximity to each" other and therebymoving the shutter portions 46a and 46b into increasingly spread-apart positions by way of their respective pivots 49a and 4%. Turning in the otherdirection will achieve the opposite result, i.'e.,

the guide members or studs 6|a and filb'will'be' moved apart with respect to each other and the shutter portions will become progressively closed. In the arrangement illustrated the camming grooves or slots are so arranged that a 180 degree turn of knob III will move the shutters between a completely closed and a fully opened position and any intermediate'degree turn will move'the shutters to any desired intermediate" predetermined position of relative closure.

In lieu of the cup construction illustrated in Figs. 2-6, a substantially flat disc with camming slots or grooves may be used. Such ar rangement is, for instance, illustrated in Flgs.

7 and8. As there shown,disc 10 carries spirally arranged camming' grooves or slots "Ha and Nb respectively- Shutter extensions 49a and 49b carry guide lugslZaand lzbrespectively. These guide lugs are in engagement with the cammins s. qre o s and a turninsvof he. 1is,c.;wmchis rotatably mounted at 13, will move the extensions 48a and 49b towards each other, thus effecting a spreading of the shutter portions. and thereby causing the same to open. A degree turn of the disc will cause the opening of the shutter from the fully closed to the fully opened position. Reversing the rotation of the disc, the shutter can be closed by the same 180 degree turn in the other direction. Any intermediate shutter positions may be obtained by intermediate degree turning of the disc. This construction has the advantage of ease of assembly and fewer elements. The disc is made to project beyond the burner housing for easy access.

In all cases where camming arrangements are used, it is possible to so calculate the same, if desired, that magnification of control in the low flame area is obtained. As illustrated in Fig. 8, this is achieved by the relatively small divergence from a cylindrical path of the closing end portions of the camming slots or grooves in contrast with the much steeper divergence from such path at the other fully open end, at which sensitive control is not required to the extent necessary under low flame conditions.

In the practical operation of the burner, door 5 is opened, and fuel cup 38, charged with a normally liquid solidified fuel, is inserted by lowering spring plate 32 by means of handle 34 and turned to the left, facing the burner door, to the fully opened position. The fuel in the fuel cup is ignited and the fuel vapors emanating from the fuel pass into the combustion space 2| and are there intermixed with air entering through .the perforations 28 of the inner cylinder l8 and the perforations IQ of the outer cylinder Once the combustion is well under way,

H. the volume of the fuel passing from the fuel receptacle into the combustion space can be regulated to any desired extent, thus effecting control of the burner flame by any adjustment of the shutter to any position of relative closure.

The shutter housing is so arranged and proportioned that the shutter is movable therein with a sliding substantially vapor-tight fit. Normally a fit of from 71 to of an inch between shutter surfaces and inner surfaces of the housing with which the shutter is in frictional engaging contact will produce a satisfactory vaportight seal or fit. substantially vapor-tight at the periphery thereof. This may be accomplished as, for instance, illustrated in the drawings by spot welding the flanged or bent portion of the upper shutter housing plate onto the bottom plate.

When the shutter is in theclosed position it acts as a relatively closely fitting lid over the cut-out 4| of the burner assembly base 3|,

completely blocking the passage of fuel vapors from the fuel cup into tlie'combustion space of;

the burner. The fit is sufficient to exclude the passage or leakage of vapors even under the pressure generated by the continuedemanation V of fuel vapors from the fuel as the result of ,the

heat present within the fuel cup or continued .to be conducted into the fuel cup for some time after the shutter is closed and the burner flame has become extinguished.

A practical .test for ascertaining whetherthe" desired vapor-tight fit. is present is theholding of an openjlameinear. all joints, as leakage-will- The housing itself should be be-i'mme'diately apparent by ignition of escaping fuelfumes. "Wherever; therefore, the expression "vapor-tight or asimilar term is used herein in connection with the shutter housing and/or shutter, it is intended to connote such condition or conditions as will assure the blocking of the passage of fuel vapors to the exterior of the structure in amounts that could be ignited by an open fiama f.

As illustrated in the drawings, the shutter housing is so arranged that it provides an opening on one side thereof through which the extensions of the shutter portions pass to the-outside of the housing. The shutter extensions'are preferably so arranged that they substantially fill this space, leaving only sufficient clearance on each side facing'the edges of the shutter housin opening to permit the operation of the shutters and their ex tensions over the-pivots; The inner faces of the shutter portions constitute mating s'urf aces which" close substantially vapor-tight. v

In the preferred embodiment'ofthe invention the shutter extensions are angled with respect to the axis of the shutter halves and have rounded abutting inner faces, each in continuation'and extension of its mating shutter face. This is; for instance, indicated at 80 (Fig. 4) The shutter is there illustrated in open position with the closed position indicated in dotted outline. It will be seen that-therounded surfaces at 80 constituting part of a true circle around the respective pivot points 49a and 49b will remain in abutment throughout the movement of the shutter halves between fully closed and fully openedposition. In

this manner a-relatively-tightvapor seal is establis'hedl i When the shutter is opened, even if only to a relatively small extent-fuel vapors pass through the conduit created by the opening and into the combustion space. The position of the shutter whenpartly opened is such that arelatively large space exists within the shutter housing in back of the shutter portions. In view of the fact, however, that there is a direct open passage to the combustion space, somewhat of a draft effect" is created, causing the fuel vaporsto preferentially pass'into the combustion'space. The fuel vapors will not pass through the backspace behind the shutter portions and out through the relatively narrow space between the sides of the shutter extensions and the adjacent parts of the shutter housing opening. The relative narrowness of available-space between shutter extension and adjacent rim of the opening in the shutter housing creates also a back pressure factor which aids in blocking leakage of fuel vapors through the openingof the shutter housing carrying the shutter extensions. Forthe same reasons the fit between the interior faces of theshutter or, shutter extensions or other means providing a vapor seal at the insideof the shutter portionspermits of considerable tolerance before fuel vapor leakage occurs at this point.

Thus the invention essentially embraces in a burner of the solidified normally liquid fuel burning type having a fuel receptacle and means defining a combustion space, the improvement in flame control for such burner which comprises means defining a conduit positioned and adapted to feed vaporized fuel from said receptacle to said combustion space, means defining a shutter within said conduit for substantially opening and closing said conduit to the passage of fuel vapors therethrough and means for manually adjusting said shutter to variable positions throughout its 6. operating range-from fully closed to full'y opened: The foregoing description' is for purposes-"of illustration and not of'limitation and it -is-th'ere'-" 1. In a burner of the normally liquid solidifiedfuel burning type having a fuel receptacle-and means defining a combustion space, the improvement' in flame control structure which'comprisesmeans defining a substantially vapor.- tight conduit positioned to feed vaporizedfuel from said receptacle to said combustion space, means defining a shutter substantially vapor tightly arranged within said conduit for substantially opening andclosing said conduit to the passage offuel vapors therethrough, and means for manually --adjusting' said -shutt'er' to various positions throughout its operating range from fully closed to full opened; said receptacle and said conduit forming an-air excluding substantially vaportight unit.

2. In a burner of the normally liquid solidified fuel burning type having a fuel receptacle and means defining a combustion space, the-improvement. in flame-control structure which comprises means defining a substantially "vaportight con duit positioned to feed vaporized fuel from said receptacle to said-combustion'space, means defining a shutter substantially vapor tightly ar ranged within said conduit for substantially open-' ing and closing said conduitto the passage offuel vapors therethrough, said shutter comprising 'two panels having substantially mating surfaces fac-'- ing each other and'movable in said'c'onduit froma mating surfaces abutment position, subs-tamtiallyclosing saidconduit to the passage of fuel vapors therethrough, "to a maximumspread-apart position, opening said conduit to the substantially unrestricted passage'of fuel vapors therethrough, and, means for manually adjusting said shutter panels to various positions throughout their range of movement, said receptacle and said conduit forming an air excluding substantially vapor tight unit. 3

3. Ina burner construction, the improvement in accordance with claim 2 in which there are additionally provided means defining at least onesubstantially fuel vapor-tight housing to receive atleast part of said panels when in said maximum spread-apart position. I

4., In a burner of the'normally liquid solidified fuel burning type having a fuel receptacle and means defining a combustion space, the improve-'- ment in fiame control structure which comprisesmeans defining. a substantially vapor tight conduit positioned to feed vaporized fuel from said receptacle tosaid combustion space, a shutter across said conduit for opening and closing the same tothe passage of fuel vapors-therethrough and comprising two, substantially side by side arranged panels, having substantially mating surfaces facing each other and movable in said conduit from a mating surfaces abutment position, substantially closing said conduit to the passage of fuel vapors therethrough, to a maximum spread-apart position substantially opening said conduit to the substantially unrestricted passage of fuel vapors therethrough, a substantially fuel vapor-tight housing slidably receiving in substantially vapor-tight fit at least part of said panels when in fully spread-apart position, means defining an opening in said housing, at least one extension carried by each of said panels, said extensions extending through said opening, at least one of said panels and said extensions substantially fuel vapor tightly blockin said opening when said panels are in spread-apart position, and manually controllable means connected to said extensions for adjusting said shutter panels to various positions throughout their range of movement, said receptacle and said conduit forming an air excluding substantially vapor tight unit.

5. In a burner construction the improvement in accordance with claim 4 in which said shutter panels are pivotably mounted and in which said extensions are positioned at an angle relative to each other when said panels are in the closed position so as to close said shutters by moving said extensions away from each other and to open said shutter by moving said extensions toward each other.

6. In a burner of the normally liquid solidified fuel burning type having a fuel receptacle and means defining a combustion space, the improvement in flame control structure which comprises means defining a substantially vapor tight conduit positioned to feed vaporized fuel from said receptacle to said combustion space, a shutter across said conduit for opening and closing the same to the passage of fuel vapors therethrough said shutter comprising two, substantially side by side arranged, and substantially congruously positioned panels having substantially mating surfaces facing each other and each mounted on pivot means for pivotable movement in said conduit from a mating surfaces abutment position substantially fully closing said conduit to the passage of fuel vapors therethrough, to a maximum spread-apart position, substantially opening said conduit to the substantially unrestricted passage of .fuel vapors therethrough, each of said mating surfaces terminating in a substantially circular section around its pivot means, said circular sections being arranged in engaging contact to ride upon each other in substantially vapor-tight fit throughout the range of pivot of said panels about said pivot means, a substantially fuel vapor-tight housing slidably receiving in substantially vaportight fit at least partof said panels when in fully spread-apart position, means defining anopening in said housing, at least one extension carried by each of said panels and extending beyond said pivot means through said opening, at least one of said extensions and said panels substantially fuel vapor tightly blocking said opening when said panels are in spaced-apart position and manually controllable means connected to said extensions for variably adjusting the angular dis means defining a combustion spacethe improvement in flame control structure which comprises a substantially vapor-tight shutter housing substantially vapor-tightly positioned intermediate said fuel receptacle and said combustion space and having a top opening in direct substantially vapor tight fuel vapor feed communication with said combustion space and a bottom opening in direct substantially vapor tight fuel vapor feed communication with said fuel receptacle, a shutter within said housing comprising two panels having inner mating surfaces facing each other and each mounted on pivot means for pivotable movement in vapor-tight sliding fit with said housing from a mating surface abutment position, fully closing at least one of said openings. to a maximum spread-apart position, leaving uncovered both said openings for the substantially unrestricted passage of fuel vapors therethrough, each of said mating surfaces terminating in a substantially circular section around its pivot means, said circular sections being positioned to ride upon each other in substantially vapor-tight fit throughout the range of pivot of said panels about said pivot means, means defining an opening in said housing, at least one extension carried by each of said panels and extending beyond said pivot means through said opening, at least one of said extensions and said panels substantially fuel vapor tightly blocking said opening when said panels are in spaced-apart position, and manually controllable means connected to said extensions for variably adjusting the angular distance therebetween throughout the range of pivot of said panels, said receptacle and said conduit forming an air excluding substantially vapor tight unit.

ALBERT JOSEPH LALIBERTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 387,277 Young et al Aug. 7, 1888 431,708 Richardson July 8, 1890 599,147 Manning et al Feb. 15, 1898 766,618 Heinrichs Aug. 2, 1904 926,487 Holley [June 29, 1909 990,520 Booth Apr. 25, 1911 1,012,748 Swan Dec. 26, 1911 1,222,571 Ball Apr. 10, 1917 1,238,080 Ball Aug. 28, 1917 1,339,059 Grochmal- May 4, 1920 1,995,049 Zeitz Mar. 19, 1935 2,088,797 Larsen Aug. 3, 1937 2,356,788 vI-Ierron Aug. 29, 1944 0 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 345,697 Germany Dec. 17, 1921 

